FCT doctors yet to join strike

Dr Roland Aigbovo, the General Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of National Association of Resident Doctors, said the chapter was yet to join the ongoing nationwide strike.

He made this known in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

He explained that the chapter could not join the strike because its management was presently discussing issues relating to payment of NARD levels and arrears.

He said “discussions have reached advanced stage; we have written to the national body to exempt us from the ongoing strike and we are waiting for response and hope that our appeal is approved.”

He, however, said that while work continued at the hospital, the strike was being observed in government hospitals within the FCT such as National Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Jabi and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada.

Aigbovo added that the association’s leadership would meet with the Minister of Labour and Productivity on Wednesday to deliberate on pending issues.

He noted that the meeting would focus on memorandum of terms of settlement reached on Aug. 31, which was turned down by the association’s National Executive Council.

He said if Federal Government had implemented the memorandum, the association would not have called for
national strike.

“It is not that we love going on strike, but the issue of sincerity of purpose and trust is at stake here,” he said.

He stressed the need for all parties to an agreement to be ready to fulfill same, especially in a trade dispute.

He frowned at situations where Federal Government always reneged on its agreement, saying this gave
room for strike.

He maintained that whatever the outcome of the association’s leadership meeting with the Minister of Labour, there would still be need to call for emergency National Executive Council meeting.

This, he said, was especially so because the strike was declared by the council.